Akai 1721 Audio Problems (Heads?) - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Restoration73 · 6th Jun 2016, 1:58 am

From your photo, you can see the bottom of the erase head has greater wear, and this
is common ; to prevent similar wear on your new r/pb head fit this so the top of the
head is projecting forwards slightly.
Despite the foregoing, a combined record/play head can work well, although the design is a compromise for both functions. Demagnetise the entire head block after fitting.

Diabolical Artificer · 6th Jun 2016, 6:48 am

AFAIK, you can't adjust the bias on these, it's a pretty bog standard rec/repro amp. Akai's in general, and this model, are a b*tch to take apart and get access to the PCB's. Watch out there's a long thin rod that hooks onto the the chassis from the main motor section. With this un hooked the whole chassis with speaker's slides out, after you've prised two bits of plywood packing off the case.

The PCB's are really jammed packed with resistors on end/standing up, so are tricky to probe as well.

Andy.

6th Jun 2016, 1:58 am	#21
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: Akai 1721 Audio Problems (Heads?) From your photo, you can see the bottom of the erase head has greater wear, and this is common ; to prevent similar wear on your new r/pb head fit this so the top of the head is projecting forwards slightly. Despite the foregoing, a combined record/play head can work well, although the design is a compromise for both functions. Demagnetise the entire head block after fitting.

6th Jun 2016, 6:48 am	#22
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,670	Re: Akai 1721 Audio Problems (Heads?) AFAIK, you can't adjust the bias on these, it's a pretty bog standard rec/repro amp. Akai's in general, and this model, are a b*tch to take apart and get access to the PCB's. Watch out there's a long thin rod that hooks onto the the chassis from the main motor section. With this un hooked the whole chassis with speaker's slides out, after you've prised two bits of plywood packing off the case. The PCB's are really jammed packed with resistors on end/standing up, so are tricky to probe as well. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.